The murder, a week ago, of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson set off a manhunt, as well as a great deal of interest in the man arrested for the crime. But it’s also set off a great deal of anger directed at the health insurance industry, with some even going so far as to justify the shooting or express admiration for the shooter.
And now, in New York, “wanted” posters have begun to appear in New York City, of other health care company CEOs. Some even have a picture of Thompson, with an X over it. OptumHealth CEO Heather Cianfrocco and UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty are among those whose faces are featured on the posters.
Various users of social media, including TikTok, have photographed and filmed the posters.
Wanted posters of CEO’s are now popping up pic.twitter.com/zIT5qE2Un4
— Washingtons ghost (@hartgoat) December 11, 2024
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According to a Reddit discussion of the posters, they make what sounds like an ominous threat: “UnitedHealthcare killed everyday people for the sake of profit. As a result Brian Thompson was denied his claim to life. Who will be denied next?”
It’s not clear who is responsible for the posters, as they appear to be in the anarchic, often radical tradition of New York City street art. One popular X account tried to tie the posters to “liberals,” but that’s not really what happened here.
SICK: Liberals in NYC have begun putting up “wanted” posters targeting health insurance company CEOs. The poster for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson – who was murdered – has now been marked as “completed.” pic.twitter.com/V5j7UnrOJt
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 11, 2024
The Daily Mail referred to the poster campaign as “dystopian.”
“The menacing posters were erected on Canal Street – one of Manhattan’s busiest thoroughfares – flanked with the red and black words: ‘Wanted. Denying medical care for corporate profit. Health care CEOs should not feel safe,” the Mail said. They added that the posters also included the phrase “Deny. Defend. Depose.,’ the three words reportedly written on the shell casings found at the crime scene.
In addition, per ABC News, the New York Police Department has issued a warning about “the heightened risk environment for health care executives.”
“Both prior to and after the suspected perpetrator’s identification and arrest, some online users across social media platforms reacted positively to the killing, encouraged future targeting of similar executives, and shared conspiracy theories regarding the shooting,” the bulletin from the NYPD said.
Featured image via screengrab
